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Lance
Fluegel and Bradley
Rein
Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Read
the owner's manual to learn the characteristics of your
machine.
- For
your personal protection you will need to wear some or all
of the following: sturdy pants and shirt, safety shoes,
hard hat, safety goggles or glasses, gloves, hearing protection,
and respirator for dusty conditions. Sunscreen protection
is vital in Arizona if not under a roof.
- Check
the loader/backhoe for the presence of the following safety
devices in good working order: rollover protective structure
(ROPS), seat belt (if ROPS equipped), guards, shields, backup
warning system, lights, and mirrors.
- Fill
the fuel tank while engine is off and cool. Never fill inside
a building. Do not smoke. Wipe up any spills immediately.
- Check
the machine daily for broken, missing, or damaged parts.
Make the necessary repairs or replacements.
- Keep
the machine clean -- especially steps, hand rails, pedals,
grab irons, and floor of the cab. Slippery surfaces are
very hazardous.
- Remove
or secure loose items in the cab that could interfere with
operating the controls.
- Check
the work area for hidden holes, obstacles, drop-offs, etc.
Clear children, pets, and bystanders from the area.
- Check
overhead for utility lines, roofs, and other obstacles.
- Request
Blue Stake service to locate underground cables, gas lines,
water, and sewer lines before digging. You need to request
this service in advance.
- Always
use the hand rails, ladders, and steps provided when mounting
the machine; never grab controls or the steering wheel.
- The
cab was designed for one person -- allow no riders, especially
children.
- Adjust
the seat, fasten the seat belt, set the brake, and place
transmission in park or neutral before starting the engine.
- If
machine is in a garage be sure ventilation is adequate.
CARBON MONOXIDE KILLS!
- Start
the engine and check all controls for proper function. Check
horn and backup alarm. Do not use if anything is faulty.
- If
the backhoe is still attached be sure to use chains and
locks to prevent it from swinging.
- If
the backhoe is removed you may have to use counterweights.
Check your owner's manual.
- Keep
the working area as level and clean as possible. Use the
bucket to grade the area frequently.
- Always
carry the bucket low for good visibility and maximum stability.
- Use
extreme caution when backfilling to avoid collapsing the
wall of the trench.
- When
undercutting high banks or material piles be alert for falling
rocks and/or cave-ins.
- Keep
the loader bucket on the ground.
- Level
the machine for maximum stability.
- Operate
the backhoe only from the seat.
- Never
swing the bucket over a truck cab. Do not load the truck
while the driver is still inside.
- Dump
the bucket uphill if possible when operating on a slope.
If you must dump downhill swing slowly to avoid tipping
the machine.
- If
using the backhoe as a hoist, do so with the weight over
the back of the machine -- NEVER THE SIDE -- to avoid tipping.
Be sure the load you are lifting is balanced, and move the
boom slowly to avoid swaying the load.
- Park
the machine on level ground if possible and set the parking
brake. Place transmission in park if so equipped.
- Lower
the loader and backhoe buckets to the ground.
- Stop
the engine and remove the key.
- Work
the hydraulic controls to relieve pressure.
- Wait
until all motion has stopped and then dismount carefully
using steps and safety holds. Do not jump from the machine.
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Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This document
is
8831-J
,
a series of the the Cooperative Extension, the University
of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719. Publication date: May 1989.
Lance
Fluegel, Safety Coordinator, and Bradley Rein, Engineering
Specialist, the College of Agriculture, University of Arizona,
Tucson, AZ 85719.
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